The Washington bee., 1887-01-01
THE PHILOMATHIAN.
LOST OPPORTUNITIES DISCUSSED. Mr..
A. G. LENARD GIVES SONS GOOD
ADVICE. LADIES TAKING A LIVE
LY INTEREST In THE ASSOCIATION T..

notwithstanding the near ap-
proach of christmas last week, and
the happy hearts whose time de-
manded their attention, the society
was entertained with Lost opportu-
mites by Mr.. A. G. Lenard, and an
essay by Miss Webb. The secre-
tary Miss Mason, although late with
her minutes, was equal to the task
imposed upon her. The exercise
was opened with prayer by the
Chaplain Prof. Johnson, after
which Mrs. Adele Slye, who was
elected osganist and musical direc-
tress, favored the audience with an
instrumental solo. Miss Lucy
Webb, being introduced, read
very interesting essay entitled
FASHION.
This lady has a very distinct artic-
ulatiOn and at times demonstrated
great degree of logic. No heath
en- God, said she, or goddess has
ever had more zealons followers,
sham fashions, or a more absurd
and humiliating ritual or more NOR
tifying and cruel penances. The
laws must be implicitly obeyed but
change as certain as the moon.
They are rarely founded in reason,
usually violates common sense,
sometimes common decency and
unifOrml y comfort. Fashion rules
the world and a most tyrannical
mistress she is, cOmpels people to
submit to the most incOnvenient
things. She pinches our feet, with
tight shoes or chokes US with as
tight collars or squeezes the breath
out of us by lacing. She infatuates
the courts and aristocracy and then
ridicules the poor, if they do not
follow in the wake. This was illus
trated in the reign of Bichard LII.
Ii she fancies comparative naked
ness for winter or five thickness of
wooden for summer she speaks and
it is done. If she orders the purple
current of life and organs of respi-
ration to be retarded by steel whale
bones, bucksoms, drill and cords,
it is done. A man who will make
himself useful about his home is
questionable, that it will never do
to marry him. Fashion kills more
people than toll.
The essayist of the evening Mr..
Lenard, was introduced, aud read q
paper on
LOST OPPORTUNITIES.
He said: In every community there
is<always some one whom his neigh
bor says has made good use by his
opportunities. He commands the
respect of all who know him. He
is alert and active in business. He
is spoken of as clever gentleman
ly an honorable man, a man who
has grasped every opportunity to
be successful. This parsonage in
every community is a true represen-
tatiye of good citizenship. He may
be laborer, doctor, lawyer, minis
ter of the gospel, merchant, &c. In
order to succeed he must push for
ward to the opportunities ahead. /
do not believe that dame fortune
has particular man to smile upon,
on the other hand / believe that
every man is the architect of his
own fortune or success. 1t is not
what we are doing to-day, that agi-
tates US most, but what we failed
to do yesterday, regarding our op-
pOrtunities. The man who has
made bad use of his opportunities
In this world is afterwards seen
standing on the street corners abu-
sing his neighbor for out doing him
in the race of life. We think it
pertinent to inquire what il is in the
man that makes him prosperous,
while his neighbor, seemingly just
as well endowed by nature does not
succeed. This inquiry and it's an-
swer would lead us into the discus
sion OF the man who made good use
Of his opportunities and the man
who lost them. The man who
wishes to succeed sees his oppOrtu-
nifty, and turns it to his advantage.
Mr.. Smith, the first speaker dis
agreed with the essayist.
He said: That there was no such